Head covering apparatus for use in streak coloring hair



R. A. DAGOSTINO HEAD COVERING APPARATUS FOR USE IN STREAK COLORING HAIR Filed May 13, 1965 Feb. 7, 1967 lNVfiNTOR RICHARD A- D'AGOSTINO ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,302,653 HEAD COVERING APPARATUS FOR USE IN STREAK COLORING HAIR Richard A. DAgostino, 19496 Huhbell,

Detroit, Mich. 48235 Filed May 13, 1965, Ser. No. 455,406 3 Claims. (Cl. 1329) This invention relates to apparatus useful in the practree of streak-coloring hair, the apparatus being low in cost and reliable in operation.

The style of womens hair wherein streaks of light hair are provided in a predominately darker background is currently in fashion. Such streaks are normally formed by segregating a plurality of hair strands from the rest of the hair, and bleaching and rinsing the strands without in any way operating upon the rest of the hair. The common method of segregating various hair strands at random locations about the head, consist of placing a fairly heavy gauge rubber or plastic cap about the head and securing it below the hair line with a suitable draw-string or similar fastener. The cap is then pierced at random points and a hooked needle is used to draw a strand of hair through the aperture. After a number of strands have been thus exposed they are treated with bleaching powder and solution which is allowed to act for a predetermined length of time, and then are rinsed. The cap is removed and retained for future use.

This prior art process creates problems in that the cap employed is relatively expensive so that it should be preferably used a few times before it is discarded. Yet, on successive uses the holes become enlarged and tend to leak bleaching fluid into the hair under the cap so as to produce an undesirable effect. When leaks occur in the cap, the peroxide which passes through the seal may harm the scalp. Also it is common for the peroxide to leak through the apertures in the cap but not the bleaching powder, resulting in a variable color pattern which is particularly undesirable.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus used in the prior art. Essentially it provides a method whereby an extremely low cost cap is employed, which is intended for discarding after a single use, and the cap is so constructed as to provide a highly efficient seal between the withdrawn segments of hair and the hair under the cap, so as to prevent the leaking of bleaching fluid through the cap. The cap of the present invention is also easier to pierce and otherwise more handy in use than the prior art caps.

As disclosed in a preferred embodiment, which is subsequently described in detail, the method of the present invention contemplates the use of a pair of relatively thin caps having a rat-tail. The caps are both of the same general shape and are preferably formed of a sheet plastic material with the inner cap being of a slightly greater thickness than the outer cap. The outer cap is inserted over the inner cap and the edges of both of the caps are bent upwardly so as to form a brim or trough around the base. The tail end of the caps are oriented in the rear direction, and are then gathered by a rubber band or a tie to draw the caps rather tightly over the hair.

The caps are then pierced at selected points with a hooked end instrument and the instrument is used to gather a strand of hair and draw it through the opening. From this point the method of the present invention closely resembles the practice of the prior art. A combination of bleach powder and peroxide solution is poured over the cap and allowed to act on the exposed hair for a period from twenty to thirty minutes, depending upon the result desired. Then the exposed hair is rinsed and the cap is untied and removed.

The use of the double cap provides a much more effecice tive seal than is achieved by the single heavy cap of the prior art because any fluid which passes through the seal of the outer cap tends to run down between the contiguous surfaces of the two caps and to be collected in the lower trough, rather than passing through the seal in the heavier, inner cap and reaching the covered hair and scalp of the subject. The elongated tail design of the two caps also makes it easy to obtain an effective seal along the lower ends of the caps in a simple and sure manner. The caps formed of thin plastic are inexpensive and may be discarded after a single use.

An object is to provide apparatus for practicing the method consisting of a pair of hats wherein both caps are formed of thin, inexpensive plastic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap structure useful in connection with the method, consisting of a pair of sheet plastic caps of identical configuration, except that one is of a heavier gauge than the other, arranged with the lighter gauge cap over the heavier gauge with their extending tails joined so that they may be closed and sealed as a unit.

Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: A

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the caps removed from the head;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the inner cap placed on the head of a wearer;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of both caps in use, with their tails tied to seal the lower ends of the caps to the head and with a single strand of hair withdrawn from the caps by a hooked needle; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the hair coloring achieved by the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the two caps used in the present invention appear identical except for the gauge of the material. The under cap, generally indicated at 10, which fits directly against the head, is preferably formed of 0.005 inch polyvinyl film and the outer cap, generally indicated at 12, is formed of 0.002 inch polyvinyl film. Otherwise each cap is identical and will be given identical numerals in the following description.

Each cap is formed of a pair of flat sheets 14 having a flat bottom side 16, a domed top 18, and extending tall 20. A pair of sheets are joined along their sides 18 and 20 at a seam 22, preferably by heat sealing. A thickened hem 24 extends around the bottom edges 16 in order to prevent tearing. As is shown in FIGURE 3, in use, the under cap 10 is first placed with the domed section 18 on the head and then the over-cap 12 is placed on top of the under-cap 10. The side and forward edges of both caps are turned upwardly as at 26 in order to form a sort of trough.

The rearwardly extending tail sections 20 are then joined by a rubber band 28, or other suitable tie, so as to tightly secure the cap sections about the head.

Prior to placing the caps on the head, it may be desirable to dust the hair with talcum or some other powder in order to impart a slippery quality to the hair.

Next, strands of hair at random points are pulled out through the sides of the caps. This is preferably done by an elongated instrument 30 having a slightly hooked end 32. The instrument may pierce through the sides of the cap and used to withdraw a strand of hair through the opening thus formed. A strand of hair 34 pulled through an opening 36 in the side of the cap is illustrated in FIG- URE 3. The number and position of the strands thus exposed is dependent upon the particular hair style desired.

After the desired strands are exposed they are bleached or otherwise colored by placing a solution of hydrogenperoxide and bleaching powder on them. Any peroxide which passes through the aperture formed in the outer cap 12 is likely to run down the contiguous surface between the two caps rather than passing through the aperture in the inner cap 10 so as to produce undesirable coloring on the main body of hair or injury to the scalp.

The coloring matter may be left on the hair from twenty to thirty minutes depending upon the exact color desired and the nature of the coloring material. After that time the exposed strands are rinsed and then the cap is removed. The result is a number of colored strands 38 spaced about the main body of hair in the manner of the current style.

The used caps 10 and 12 may be discarded because their low cost makes it economical to provide a new cap with each application.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cap for use in selectively coloring strands of hair, comprising: a pair of cap sections of identical configuration, one section being formed of heavier film plastic than the other, each section consisting of a pair of identical sheets having one flat edge, a domed section, and an elongated tail section, each pair of sheets being sealed together in opposition on all edges except the flat edge, such pair of cap sections being joined in complementary relationship with one another with their open sides over the head of the wearer and their tail sections gathered to tighten the cap about the head.

2. A cap for use in selectively coloring strands of hair, comprising: a pair of cap sections identical in configuration to one another, each formed of a film plastic resistant to the action of a treating solution, each section consisting of a pair of identical sheets having one flat edge, a dome section and an elongated tail section, each pair of sheets being sealed together in opposition on all edges except the fiat edge, each pair of cap sections being joined in complementary relationship with one another with their open sides over the head of the wearer and the tail sections gathered to tighten the cap about the head; said plastic being penetrable by a puncturing tool and said cap sections being open along their lower marginal portions to permit drainage of the solution between said cap sections.

3. A cap as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said cap sections is formed of a heavier gauge plastic than the other of said cap sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,274 11/1952 Nell 132-9 2,818,074 12/1957 Mach 132-9 2,957,480 10/1960 Wiloif et a1 1327 3,084,446 4/1963 Freeman et a1. 2-204 X 3,143,117 8/1964 Ruud 132-9 3,249,113 5/1966 Sobeck 1329 ROBERT E. MORGAN, Acting Primary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CAP FOR USE IN SELECTIVELY COLORING STRANDS OF HAIR, COMPRISING: A PAIR OF CAP SECTIONS OF IDENTICAL CONFIGURATION, ONE SECTION BEING FORMED OF HEAVIER FILM PLASTIC THAN THE OTHER, EACH SECTION CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF IDENTICAL SHEETS HAVING ONE FLAT EDGE, A DOMED SECTION, AND AN ELONGATED TAIL SECTION, EACH PAIR OF SHEETS BEING SEALED TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION ON ALL EDGES EXCEPT THE FLAT EDGE, 